Jivan Avetisyan

I am an Armenian film director, born in Gyumri, raised in Artsakh and currently based in the capital city of Yerevan, Armenia. I, as a child, grew up during one of the most violent conflicts in the (...) caucuses, understand well the brutal consequences of war. And although my own childhood was stripped of playful mischief and was instead laden with responsibility to protect family and friends, I did not abandon my dream and passion for filmmaking. My lifelong dream of storytelling, of chronicling history, and putting Artsakh on the world map has been realized through the art of filmmaking. I have created well over 20 documentaries, short films, and three feature films, Tevanik, The Last Inhabitant, and Gate to Heaven. My first feature film, "Tevanik", has been recognized in over twenty international film festivals claiming over twenty awards including Best Feature Film. My second feature film "The Last Inhabitant" was screened at A class international film festivals including Shanghai and Venice and was considered for the Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Score in the 73rd Golden Globe Awards; it won Best Feature Film and Best Actor Award at the Scandinavian International Film Festival in Helsinki, Finland. Lastly, the film was licensed by HBO Eastern Europe. My third film project, "Gate to Heaven" is making its round in the festival market. I continue to thrive to tell stories about my hometown, and I am currently in the development stage of my fourth feature film which is earmarked for production in 2021. I believe Art can heal, and as Martin Scorsese once said:"Movies touch our hearts and awaken our vision and change the way we see things. They take us to other places, they open doors and minds. Movies are the memories of our lifetime. We need to keep them alive".